TOPSHAM
As part of a new process approved by voters at a May 2011 town meeting, a new committee updated the public on its priorities for community development spending during the upcoming budget process.
Gary Fogg, representing the Conservation Commission, chairs the new Topsham Community Fund Committee. During a Nov. 21 meeting, Fogg explained that the committee derives from voters’ decision to scratch a former “Quality of Life” ordinance that had been in place for approximately five years. Instead of mandating a “quality of life” budget line item, which voters have rejected at May town meetings in recent years, the town created a committee to study community development projects, then make recommendations based on its findings.
“Whatever we recommend tonight has to go through the normal budget process conducted by the Board of Selectmen and Finance Committee,” Fogg said. “And if it survives there, then it goes to town meeting.”
The Nov. 21 meeting also provided townspeople with an opportunity to suggest alternative projects “if you’re not enthralled with what is proposed in the annual plan, or if you like it but you want more in addition to it,” Fogg said.
After looking at possible funding sources and potential quality of life projects, Fogg said, “We are recommending to continue funding to raise money for a local match on phase two of the bicycle/pedestrian recreation trail in Topsham.”
Grace Lewis-McLaren, also on the five-member Topsham Community Fund Committee, said the committee looked at four projects — the Lower Village park, Androscoggin Riverwalk, Head of Tide Park — and “one more project that needs some serious looking and funding, and that is what we’re calling this Topsham recreation path.”
Town Planner Rich Roedner said that in 2002 the town started a process to extend the Androscoggin River bike path that runs along the river in Brunswick, crosses the river into Topsham along Merrymeeting Bridge and ends on Elm Street.
“We came up with this feasibility study that looked at a multiple- phase project because we knew we couldn’t afford to do it all at once,” Roedner said. The Maine Department of Transportation subsequently renumbered the phases.
Roedner said the first phase of the design planning is nearly done. The 2003-04 feasibility study was funded through a $40,000 MDOT grant matched with $10,000 from the Topsham Crossing subdivision. Then the town received an $ 80,000 grant from MDOT, which it matched with $15,000 from the Topsham Crossing subdivision for design work.
“Ultimately the goal would be that from Topsham Fair Mall out beyond Cook’s Corner (in Brunswick) you could travel all off-road on a designated bike lane or a pedestrian lane,” Roedner said.
The next leg of the project was going to be construction of a trail from Main Street to Community Drive and from Village Drive to Topsham Crossing — the total cost of which would be about $ 1.2 million. However, it stalled because the plan provided no viable crossing at Route 196.
Town officials consulted with MDOT representatives about designing and obtaining permitting for both sides of Route 196 — but only building the section on the south side at a cost of about $700,000. That means the local share would be about $140,000 or 20 percent.
Roedner said town meeting voters last year transferred $25,000 from the Quality of Life account into a reserve account for this project, leaving a balance of $115,000. The town will apply for additional grants to cover part of the balance, he said.
Fogg said the committee suggests that Topsham raise $50,000 toward the $115,000 needed to trigger the MDOT grant. The panel suggests three funding sources — two that don’t requires additional taxation.
Two include using nearly the entire balance — $16,000 — from Planning Board open space fees, and $19,000 from about $ 36,000 in interest earned from the Whittier Fund, which is designated for recreation uses.
The committee also proposes asking town meeting voters to appropriate the additional $15,000 through taxation.
“This project has been part of my budget proposal I’m going to guess for four years or so, and town meeting has yet to vote on appropriating money to this project,” Roedner said.
Selectman Andrew Mason asked about the need to seek voters’ approval to appropriate $15,000 through taxes now.
“ We’ve spent $ 150,000 so far,” Roedner said. “The town has put up $0. The town has never voted on this project.”
Other than the feasibility study visioning, “The town has never had an opportunity to say this is a priority,” Roedner said. “The town may say, it’s not a priority of ours, and if that’s the case, then we move forward and we live with that. And I tell DOT well in advance” not to consider Topsham for the grant.
Resident Victor Langelo said he will be one of the people approaching businesses to raise money for the project. “ If I go out there and say, ‘Well, the town really wants this,’ and they haven’t allocated a single penny to it, it’s going to be hard,” he said. “I think the town has to have some skin to gain if they’re going to expect private investors to get out there and put their money on the line.”
The Topsham Community Fund annual report will be finalized and submitted to the town manager by the end of November.
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